Fruit-stem cutter.



I. TSUKAMOTO.

FRUIT STEM CUTTER.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 26, 1914.

191 mam Patented v. 3, 1914.

INVENTOR WITNESSES. [Ma/K aim m Twkamoto A TTORNE Y IWAKICHI TSUKAMOTO, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

FRUIT-STEM CUTTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 3, 19.1 4.

Application filed May 26, 1914. Serial No. 841,010.

T all 107mm it may concern:

Be it known that I, IwAKtcHI TsUKA- Moro a subject of the Emperor of Japan, residing at San Francisco, in the county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Fruit-Stem Cutters, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to that class of fruit stem cutters, which, in operation are secured on the fingers.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which can be made at a very low cost, and by which the cutting will be eflected easily and conveniently.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my improved cutter applied to the fingers of a hand shown in the act of cutting a bunch of grapes; Fig. 2 is a perspective view thereof. V

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a piece of sheet metal having a sharp, preferably concave, front edge 2 to form a cutter. From said front edge said sheet extends backward a short distance in a plane surface, and the remainder thereof is divided longitudinally into three strips. The two outer strips 3 are curved under, in almost complete circles, to form bands through which the fore-finger can be inserted, said bands approaching nearly into contact with each other at the front. The middle strip 4. is then extended rearwardly in a plane surface to a suitable distance and is then likewise curved under into contact with the rear portions of the bands 3 to form a hand through which the second-finger can be inserted.

In use the device is held on the first and second fingers of the hand, and the stem of a bunch of grapes, or of other fruit or flowers is pressed by the thumb against the cutter.

By reason of the device encircling both the first and second fingers of the hand, the cutter canbe manipulated, especially with practice, just as easily as can be a knife held by the whole hand, without requiring the use of the thumb, which can thus be used for supportlng the stem to be cut. Thus to raise or incline. upward the cutting edge,

the second finger is depressed relatively to the first, and to depress or incline downward the cutting edge the second finger is raised relatively to the first.

A. further important advantage resides in the fact that the cutter, being held by both first and second fingers, is prevented from turning on the fingers, and is thus held much more securely and firmly than when encircling one finger alone, as in prior inventions of this character.

tia-lly a plane surface, and being then di vided longitudinally into stri )8, one of which is immediately curled under to form a band adapted to encircle the first finger and another is extended rearwardly in a plane surface and then curled under to form a band adapted to encircle the second finger.

2. A stem cutter consisting of a piece of sheet metal having a cutting edge, and extending from said cutting edge rearwardly substantially in a plane surface and being then divided into three strips, of which the two outer are immediately curled under to form bands adapted to encircle the first finger, and the middle strip is extended in substantially a straight line in a plane surface and then curled under to form a band adapted to encircle the second finger.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IWAKlCl-ll TSUKAMOTO.

lVitnesses:

G. M. BALL, D. B. RICHARDS. 

